BALTIMORE -- Mike Trout remained in the Angels’ designated hitter spot in Friday’s 2-0 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards, a pattern manager Ron Washington is content to let continue until Trout says otherwise.
After missing all but the final two days of May with a bruised left knee, Trout has yet to return to the outfield in 13 games (12 starts). And if that’s how the three-time American League MVP feels he’s best able to contribute to an Angels team that is 8-5 since his return, that’s fine with Washington.
“[Trout will be the DH] for now. He’ll let us know when he feels good enough that he can go out there,” Washington said. “I don’t think Mike is going to want to [stay as a] DH. He’s not that kind of baseball player. He wants to be complete. But we don’t want him to go out there until he’s 100% [sure] he’s ready to go out there.
“And if that means he’s got to DH through the All-Star break, then he’ll DH through the All-Star break. And if he gets to the All-Star break and [he needs] to DH the rest of the way, then he’ll DH the rest of the way. But we’re not going to do anything to hurt Mike. We want his presence, and we want him in that lineup.”
After going 1-for-4 with a single in Friday's game, Trout is slashing .326/.396/.413 in 13 games since returning, with his average considerably above his .224 season batting average.
Washington’s cautious approach perhaps reflects awareness of an injury history that has grown once Trout entered his 30s. Approaching his 34th birthday in August, the future Hall of Famer dealt with a right calf strain in ’21, a back issue in ’22, a left hamate fracture in ’23 and a torn meniscus in his left knee in ’24.